WHERE DID GOOGLE'S 'DON'T BE EVIL' PHRASE ORIGINATE?

For the last 18 years, the Silicon Valley giant has put the phrase 'Don't be evil' front and center in its code of conduct as a way of demonstrating that it wants Googlers to strive to do the right thing.

'Don't be evil' was first added to the company's corporate code of conduct in 2000 and was highly touted by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin over the years.

The firm dedicated several paragraphs to the phrase in its code of conduct.

But that has changed as part of an update to the code, made last month, which downgrades 'Don't be evil' to a single sentence at the bottom of the document.

Here are the original paragraphs explaining Google's 'Don't be evil' principle:

'Don’t be evil.' Googlers generally apply those words to how we serve our users. But 'Don’t be evil' is much more than that. Yes, it’s about providing our users unbiased access to information, focusing on their needs and giving them the best products and services that we can. But it’s also about doing the right thing more generally – following the law, acting honorably, and treating co-workers with courtesy and respect.

The Google Code of Conduct is one of the ways we put 'Don’t be evil' into practice. It’s built around the recognition that everything we do in connection with our work at Google will be, and should be, measured against the highest possible standards of ethical business conduct. We set the bar that high for practical as well as aspirational reasons: Our commitment to the highest standards helps us hire great people, build great products, and attract loyal users. Trust and mutual respect among employees and users are the foundation of our success, and they are something we need to earn every day.

So please do read the Code, and follow both its spirit and letter, always bearing in mind that each of us has a personal responsibility to incorporate, and to encourage other Googlers to incorporate, the principles of the Code into our work. And if you have a question or ever think that one of your fellow Googlers or the company as a whole may be falling short of our commitment, don’t be silent. We want – and need – to hear from you.